The gospel reading for the day, stated above, Matthew 18:15-20

And also, John 13: 34-35 ...

God Bless!

This post has been edited by khool: Aug 16 2017, 11:50 AM

Nice, you bought a copy?

Oh, understood ... thanks. So you have been on a pilgrimage to Eastern Europe? Is it ok to ask where you went? Other than Poland of course, Medugorje perhaps?

Planning to do a pilgrimage also, just trying to figure out which places to go ... Fatima is a must for me ... hehehehe!

FREE subscription is made available to all parishioners. Please visit or contact your parish to obtain the access code so you can start using FORMED today!



God Bless!

Thanks for the advice ... and I know what you mean.

I went for a pilgrimage to Turkey back in 2011 to visit the 7 Churches of Revelation ... right when I was doing a Bible Study course. Everything leaped out to life in front of me while I was there as the lessons were still fresh in my mind.

It definitely helped further enforce my faith!

This post has been edited by khool: Aug 17 2017, 11:14 AM

Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 416



Reading 1 (Jos 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17)

The LORD said to Joshua,
"Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel,
that they may know I am with you, as I was with Moses.
Now command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant
to come to a halt in the Jordan
when you reach the edge of the waters."

So Joshua said to the children of Israel,
"Come here and listen to the words of the LORD, your God.
This is how you will know that there is a living God in your midst,
who at your approach will dispossess the Canaanites.
The ark of the covenant of the LORD of the whole earth
will precede you into the Jordan.
When the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD,
the Lord of the whole earth,
touch the water of the Jordan, it will cease to flow;
for the water flowing down from upstream will halt in a solid bank."

The people struck their tents to cross the Jordan,
with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them.
No sooner had these priestly bearers of the ark
waded into the waters at the edge of the Jordan,
which overflows all its banks
during the entire season of the harvest,
than the waters flowing from upstream halted,
backing up in a solid mass for a very great distance indeed,
from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan;
while those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah
disappeared entirely.
Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
While all Israel crossed over on dry ground,
the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD
remained motionless on dry ground in the bed of the Jordan
until the whole nation had completed the passage.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 114:1-2, 3-4, 5-6)

R. Alleluia!

When Israel came forth from Egypt,
the house of Jacob from a people of alien tongue,
Judah became his sanctuary,
Israel his domain.
R. Alleluia!

The sea beheld and fled;
Jordan turned back.
The mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like the lambs of the flock.
R. Alleluia!

Why is it, O sea, that you flee?
O Jordan, that you turn back?
You mountains, that you skip like rams?
You hills, like the lambs of the flock?
R. Alleluia!

Alleluia (Ps 119:135)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Let your countenance shine upon your servant
and teach me your statutes.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 18:21–19:1)

Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive him?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed,
and went to their master and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives his brother from his heart."

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee
and went to the district of Judea across the Jordan.

Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 417



Reading 1 (Jos 24:1-13)

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
summoning their elders, their leaders,
their judges and their officers.
When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people:
"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel:
In times past your fathers, down to Terah,
father of Abraham and Nahor,
dwelt beyond the River and served other gods.
But I brought your father Abraham from the region beyond the River
and led him through the entire land of Canaan.
I made his descendants numerous, and gave him Isaac.
To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.
To Esau I assigned the mountain region of Seir in which to settle,
while Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

"Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and smote Egypt with the prodigies
which I wrought in her midst.
Afterward I led you out of Egypt, and when you reached the sea,
the Egyptians pursued your fathers to the Red Sea
with chariots and horsemen.
Because they cried out to the LORD,
he put darkness between your people and the Egyptians,
upon whom he brought the sea so that it engulfed them.
After you witnessed what I did to Egypt,
and dwelt a long time in the desert,
I brought you into the land of the Amorites
who lived east of the Jordan.
They fought against you, but I delivered them into your power.
You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them,
the two kings of the Amorites, before you.
Then Balak, son of Zippor, king of Moab,
prepared to war against Israel.
He summoned Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you;
but I would not listen to Balaam.
On the contrary, he had to bless you, and I saved you from him.
Once you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho,
the men of Jericho fought against you,
but I delivered them also into your power.
And I sent the hornets ahead of you that drove them
(the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites,
Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites)
out of your way; it was not your sword or your bow.

"I gave you a land that you had not tilled
and cities that you had not built, to dwell in;
you have eaten of vineyards and olive groves
which you did not plant."

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 136:1-3, 16-18, 21-22 and 24)

R. His mercy endures forever.

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his mercy endures forever;
Give thanks to the LORD of lords,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.

Who led his people through the wilderness,
for his mercy endures forever;
Who smote great kings,
for his mercy endures forever;
And slew powerful kings,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.

And made their land a heritage,
for his mercy endures forever;
The heritage of Israel his servant,
for his mercy endures forever;
And freed us from our foes,
for his mercy endures forever.
R. His mercy endures forever.

Alleluia (1 Thes 2:13)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but, as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 19:3-12)

Some Pharisees approached Jesus, and tested him, saying,
"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause whatever?"
He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning
the Creator made them male and female and said,
For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother
and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh?
So they are no longer two, but one flesh.
Therefore, what God has joined together, man must not separate."
They said to him, "Then why did Moses command
that the man give the woman a bill of divorce and dismiss her?"
He said to them, "Because of the hardness of your hearts
Moses allowed you to divorce your wives,
but from the beginning it was not so.
I say to you, whoever divorces his wife
(unless the marriage is unlawful)
and marries another commits adultery."
His disciples said to him,
"If that is the case of a man with his wife,
it is better not to marry."
He answered, "Not all can accept this word,
but only those to whom that is granted.
Some are incapable of marriage because they were born so;
some, because they were made so by others;
some, because they have renounced marriage
for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever can accept this ought to accept it."



REFLECTION

No Human Being must separate. Jesus affirms the sanctity of marriage. He goes back to the original plan of God in Genesis, supposedly older than the teachings of Moses. It is God’s will that man and wife become one flesh. “What God has joined together, no human being must separate” (v 6).

Divorce is later allowed by Moses – due to people’s “hardness” of heart. Infidelity is regarded as a ground to justify it. But divorce can easily be used as an excuse to contract another marriage, which Jesus calls adultery.

Jesus teaches that marriage is not just a contract between man and woman. It is a covenant involving God who takes seriously the relationship of husband and wife. No one is qualified to untie the bond of marriage, sanctioned by God.

Jesus wants lifelong commitment in marriage for the good and well-being of the family that breaks apart when husband and wife separate and contract another marriage.

It is remarkable that many Christians opt to make their marriage work in spite of their difficulties because they believe they are doing the will of God.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 418



Reading 1 (JOS 24:14-29)

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
and addressed them, saying:
"Fear the LORD and serve him completely and sincerely.
Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt,
and serve the LORD.
If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

But the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods.
For it was the LORD, our God,
who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery.
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples
through whom we passed.
At our approach the LORD drove out all the peoples,
including the Amorites who dwelt in the land.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

Joshua in turn said to the people,
"You may not be able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God;
he is a jealous God who will not forgive
your transgressions or your sins.
If, after the good he has done for you,
you forsake the LORD and serve strange gods,
he will do evil to you and destroy you."

But the people answered Joshua, "We will still serve the LORD."
Joshua therefore said to the people,
"You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD."
They replied, "We are, indeed!"
Joshua continued:
"Now, therefore, put away the strange gods that are among you
and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
Then the people promised Joshua,
"We will serve the LORD, our God, and obey his voice."

So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day
and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem,
which he recorded in the book of the law of God.
Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak
that was in the sanctuary of the LORD.
And Joshua said to all the people, "This stone shall be our witness,
for it has heard all the words which the LORD spoke to us.
It shall be a witness against you, should you wish to deny your God."
Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to his own heritage.

After these events, Joshua, son of Nun, servant of the LORD,
died at the age of a hundred and ten.

Responsorial Psalm (PS 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8, 11)

R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

Alleluia (MT 11:25)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (MT 19:13-15)

Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
"Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.



REFLECTION

Right after saying No to divorce yesterday, Jesus in today's Gospel follows it up with, "Let the children come to me, do not prevent them."
May we who love Jesus also love the two things He is passionate about: marriage and children. The family is very dear to Jesus for it is the smallest church and the building block of the Kingdom of God.
In the First Reading, we also see how God the Father is passionate about family. We have come to the conclusion of the epic story of God's first family. The Israelites (the Chosen People} are finally settled in the land God promised them so long ago.
But these people now in the land are not the same individuals to whom God made the promise. It was to their ancient ancestor Abraham in the distant land of Ur in southern Iraq, and then to the Jewish slaves in Egypt whom God promised a permanent homeland. All of them are now dead, but in God's eyes, He has kept His promise to them because there is a continuity in life that is not broken by death. A part of us live on in future generations - a combination of our genes, our thoughts, our dreams, our works, our legacies, our influence, and others that get woven into the fabric of God's timeless being.
God's family is the whole human race, from the first man and woman He formed out of dust, to the very last fetus He will form in a mother's womb.
We also see this continuity in the Church where the Church Militant (God's family on earth) is not isolated from the Church Suffering (God's family in purgatory) and the Church Triumphant (God's family in heaven). They are interconnected and interrelated. What one Church section does affect the others up and down history. Our sacrifices and good deeds today not only benefit the future of those on earth but can also (if offered to God) make atonements for sins committed long ago by the forgotten souls in purgatory.
Even the promises God made to the Israelites were not just for themselves. It was to start the history of man's salvation. This salvation plan of God culminated in the arrival of the Promised Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus' one-time sacrificial death saves not only all generations of His believers in the future, but it also opened the previously closed gates of Heaven to those who died long before Christ but who followed God in their conscience.
This continuity of the great family of God belies modern man's penchant for individualism or living for one's self which in the extreme excludes God and fellow man. This me-centeredness can be seen by the popularity of the song "I did it My Way" in karaoke bars. And much worse, this me-centeredness is seen in modern couples who easily give up on the spouse whom they promised before God to love and cherish till death do them part. The sense of sacrifice for the good of the other that Jesus' taught, is greatly diminished when divorce is easily available.
It's also exactly the same me-centeredness that makes artificial contraception and resultant abortion attractive. It's all reduced to what's good for me and my body at this very moment. God, His Kingdom, self-sacrifice and self-discipline gets thrown out of the window.
And me-centeredness can also show up even in those of us who sincerely love Christ but exaggerate "personal relationship with Jesus" to the point of excluding His Church. Without the accumulated wisdom of His Church as the living authority to answer new questions of faith as they come up in history, our limited minds can easily misinterpret the Bible and mistake our interpretation to be coming from the Holy Spirit, and then lead others astray. We would be tempted to be our own mini-pope, teaching our own ideas and splitting up the One Body of Christ and the unity of the one family of God.
Going back to our First Reading, Joshua's mission of vanquishing the Promised Land for God's people is now successfully accomplished. He is about to die at the ripe old age of 110. This is the same age as his great-grand-ancestor Joseph the Dreamer who saved God's people from famine more than 400 years ago by bringing them into Egypt. When Moses took the Israelites out of Egypt 70 years ago, he also took the mummified body of Joseph with them as he had requested centuries earlier (Genesis 50:24-26). Joseph's body could now be buried in the same ground as his father Jacob, grandfather Isaac and great-grandfather Abraham. The great family is at last reunited in the Promised Land. What a beautiful ending to the grand epic of God's ancient family!
Before Joshua died, he urged the people, "Cast out the gods your fathers served beyond the River and serve the LORD. Decide today whom you will serve. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:14-15, condensed)
Today, many gods are pushed on us from beyond the Ocean: divorce, contraception, abortion, gay marriage, and others. To which of these foreign ideologies do you bow down? They are all designed to extinguish God's family.
The family that prays and serves God together stays together. Let us dedicate ourselves, our marriage, our whole family to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph for their protection and prayers. Hand in hand, we can make this world into the earthly paradise God has always intended it to be. If not for us today, then for our children's children in whom we will live on in some way as member of the one family of God journeying in the Grand Exodus to Heaven, to live forever in the One Family of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMassReflec...503071473843374

This post has been edited by khool: Aug 19 2017, 03:45 PM

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 118



Reading 1 (IS 56:1, 6-7)

Thus says the LORD:
Observe what is right, do what is just;
for my salvation is about to come,
my justice, about to be revealed.

The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD,
ministering to him,
loving the name of the LORD,
and becoming his servants—
all who keep the sabbath free from profanation
and hold to my covenant,
them I will bring to my holy mountain
and make joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and sacrifices
will be acceptable on my altar,
for my house shall be called
a house of prayer for all peoples.

Responsorial Psalm (PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8)

R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!

Reading 2 (ROM 11:13-15, 29-32)

Brothers and sisters:
I am speaking to you Gentiles.
Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles,
I glory in my ministry in order to make my race jealous
and thus save some of them.
For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world,
what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.
Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all.

Alleluia (MT 4:23)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus proclaimed the Gospel of the kingdom
and cured every disease among the people.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (MT 15:21-28)

At that time, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.
And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out,
"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David!
My daughter is tormented by a demon."
But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her.
Jesus' disciples came and asked him,
"Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us."
He said in reply,
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
But the woman came and did Jesus homage, saying, "Lord, help me."
He said in reply,
"It is not right to take the food of the children
and throw it to the dogs."
She said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps
that fall from the table of their masters."
Then Jesus said to her in reply,
"O woman, great is your faith!
Let it be done for you as you wish."
And the woman's daughter was healed from that hour.



REFLECTION

Tested Faith, True Faith. “O woman, great is your faith!” (v 28) are Jesus’ affirming words to the Canaanite woman at the conclusion of the Gospel. Despite many obstacles and challenges, she tenaciously perseveres in her trust that Jesus would answer her prayer.

The trials of daily life, in great and small ways, probe the depth of our faith and trust in God. In this the Canaanite woman offers us a model.

A person of faith has deep committed love. The Canaanite woman has a daughter “tormented by a demon” (v 22). The mother wants healing and deliverance for her daughter; she is not asking favors for herself. Her request is motivated by genuine compassion. The driving force in the heart of the Canaanite woman is love; she sees Jesus as a man of compassion and love.

A genuine believer has deep faith, which urges one to constantly turn to Jesus for assistance. “Lord,” she says, “help me” (v 25). She believes that Jesus can help her; she expresses her trust, addressing Jesus as “Son of David” (v 22). Her petition is actually a prayer.

A person of faith has courageous persistence in turning to God, believing in God’s love – even in the midst of great trials. The Canaanite woman is not discouraged – even when the disciples want to send her away or when Jesus does not respond immediately.

The Canaanite woman also has the gift of cheerfulness – even a sense of humor. She could refer to herself as a little dog that eats the scraps from the master’s table. Her love is genuine and authentic. She is at peace, ready to accept whatever God would give in answer to her prayers. Indeed, the Canaanite woman has a message – or, indeed, messages – for us as we face our daily journeys.

At the Eucharist, we receive Jesus who gives us His body and blood to be our food of strength for our daily journeys in faith!

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/

20th Sunday O.T (A). JESUS AND THE CANAANITE WOMAN. Faith is a way of life.



OUTLINE

1. Summary of ideas of today’s readings
2. Beautiful dialogue: Jesus tests the faith of the Canaanite woman.
3. Authentic Christian faith, transcends a mere intellectual plane. It is a way of life which includes taking risks.

1. Summary of ideas of today’s readings

Today’s readings underlines the following important idea: What saves is faith in God through His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and not one’s race nor nationality. Furthermore, God’s plan for salvation is universal.

• Such idea was already emphasized in the Old Testament, when Isaiah 56:1, 6–7 (1st reading) announces that God will bring the foreigners to his holy mountain, because his house is a house of prayer for all peoples:
“The foreigners who join themselves to the Lord, ministering to him, loving the name of the Lord, and becoming his servants — all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”
• The Responsorial Psalm goes along the same line as the universal message of salvation: "O God, let all the nations praise you! May the peoples praise you, O God;
• may all the peoples praise you!"
• The 2nd reading (Rom 11:13–15, 29–32), moreover, narrates how St. Paul, who calls himself “The Apostle of Gentiles”, that is, people who are not Jews, or simply pagans, recounts the conversion of the Gentiles with the hope of the conversion of Israel to Jesus Christ: “For God delivered all to disobedience, that he might have mercy upon all.”
• Finally, in the Gospel (Mt 15:21–28), Jesus extols the determined faith of a Canaanite woman, a Gentile (pagan), and heals her daughter.

2. Beautiful dialogue: Jesus tests the faith of the Canaanite woman.

Today’s Gospel includes a beautiful dialogue between Jesus and the Canaanite woman who, indifferent of what others might think or say, insistently cried out for Our Lord’s mercy to cure her daughter who is severely possessed by a demon.
Apparently, Jesus kept silent, but still the woman tenaciously insisted, thus irritating the Apostles who begged Our Lord to send her away.
And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

• What Jesus says here does not take from the universal reference of his teaching (cf. Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16). Our Lord came to bring his Gospel to the whole world, but he himself addressed only the Jews; later on he will charge his Apostles to preach the Gospel to pagans. St Paul, in his missionary journeys, also adopted the policy of preaching in the first instance to the Jews (Acts 13:46).
25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “0 woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
• With the expression “the children's bread”, Our Lord was referring to Israel and its inherited right to God's blessings. As in Mt 8:5-13, Jesus heals a faith-filled Gentile despite his intention to minister to Israel first (15:24; 10:6; cf. Rom 1:16).
• As for the expression “the dogs”, LITERALLY, they mean "little dogs" or "puppies". Whereas, MORALLY, the expression refers to the Canaanite woman who symbolizes repentant souls. Incapable of boasting, contrite sinners lean wholly on God's mercy; they recognize their weakness before God and can only beg for blessings, unable to demand from God gifts that he freely bestows. Only the humble and faith-filled are rewarded with spiritual healing. (St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in Matt. 52).
• By appearing to be harsh Jesus so strengthens the woman’s faith that she deserves exceptional praise: “Great is your faith!” Our own conversation with Christ should be like that: “Persevere in prayer. Persevere, even when your efforts seem barren. Prayer is always fruitful” (J. Escrivá, The Way, 101).

3. Authentic Christian faith, transcends a mere intellectual plane. It is a way of life which includes taking risks.

Christian faith is not just a matter of “knowing” the doctrine. There’s a big difference between “knowing” and “believing”; between mere “believing and “living what one believes”

• A Christian who has an authentic faith, yes, must know the doctrine.
• But doctrinal knowledge, though necessary and indispensable, is not sufficient.
• For faith is above all an intimate, trusting and loving relationship with a Person, that of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
• Knowledge must lead to a loving encounter with Him, which, in turn, should ultimately lead to witness and bear fruits through deeds/works of faith.
• Faith, in short, is a way of life. It involves living according to what we believe. And if one says “I believe in Jesus”, this profession of faith, if it is to be authentic, has to be coherent with one’s life. How? By striving to identify ourselves with Christ, to live His life for we, Christians, are called to be other Christs, Christ Himself (“alter Christus”, “ipse Christus”: St. Josemaria).

Living Christ’s life, identifying ourselves with Him involves taking risks, as He Himself did during his earthly sojourn, and as exemplified by countless saints, who gave up their lives, in order to gain Christ’s life. Remember? “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up His Cross and follow me (Mt 16:24).”

Let us then examine ourselves with the words of Pope Francis: “Do I trust Jesus, do I entrust my life to Jesus? Am I walking behind Jesus, even if I may seem ridiculous at times? Or am I sitting down, watching as others do, watching life…” content with just being a “nominal Christian,” indifferent with doctrinal formation and with an inert faith without any repercussion in my life?
Lord Jesus, “make me believe more and more in you, hope in you, and love you (Adoro te devote).”
Mother Mary, teacher of faith, hope and love, help us believe in your Son with an authentic faith which is transformed into a way of life!

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Catholicsstrivingf...?type=3&theater

You are of my tribe
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A



Whether consciously or unconsciously, we often fall into the act of setting up barriers between ourselves and others. I think, if we’re honest, we have to admit that we are basically ‘tribal’– we belong to ethnic and linguistic groups, families and classes; and each ‘tribe’ to which we belong has its own boundaries and limits, rules and expectations–and quite honestly, "we like that"! There are many alluring benefits of our ‘tribalism.’ We find strength and safety in our ‘tribe:’ we know exactly where we stand. It’s good to know there are people who think and believe as we do. However, there are some problems: We get pretty defensive about our ‘tribes’. We believe we’ve got it right, we’ve got it all figured out, we’re convinced that God is on our side and we can’t imagine anyone not thinking or seeing things the same way we and our ‘tribe' do! So, we refuse to open our ‘tribe’ to include anyone outside. You are welcome to be part of us – but, only on our terms!.

When God was setting up a people for Himself that would transmute to the universal community of God’s people, He began with the twelve tribes of Israel. This universal dimension was part of the promise made to Abraham: “by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves” (Genesis 12:3); “by your descendants shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves” (Genesis 22:18). Israel was supposed to be a light to the nations. However, history shows that they failed in this. Because of their special undeniable election as God’s chosen, Israel as a people had developed an aura of uniqueness and distinction. They began to think that they were the only favoured ones and that God does not care about other people.

Today, the readings serve as an important reminder that we should not confine and limit God to our myopic vision of things. He cannot be placed into a pigeonhole of our making. Though, man often draw boundaries, put up barriers, and group themselves into ‘tribes,’ God refuses to be limited in like manner. He crosses the line. In the First Reading, the prophet Isaiah attempted to explode and expand the insular and parochial mentality of the Israelites by reminding them that God extended salvation and deliverance to foreigners and indeed to all who would come to Him in worship on His holy mountain, in His house of prayer. In the Second Reading, St. Paul takes the discussion further by assuring the Gentiles of God’s mercy which is open to everyone. He does this by reminding both Jews and Gentiles that all have sinned, all have been guilty of turning against God, and therefore, all are in need of salvation. God’s divine activities, His justice and mercy, His gift of salvation are not exclusively reserved for a privileged few, but for everyone irrespective of race or religious background. You are part of His tribe as long as you acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of His saving.

In the gospel, we find our Lord Jesus Christ crossing such man-made boundaries and divides. He moved away from the Jewish region to the region of Tyre and Sidon; the ancient Phoenicia (present day Lebanon), an area outside Jewish boundaries. The questions asked could be, why and what did He go there to do? Well the answer can be found in the Gospel story. The story reinforces the point that though Our Lord’s mission had come first for the people of Israel, it was not confined to them. He came as a Saviour for the entire world. The Lord who is not limited by barriers and boundaries encounters another – a woman who also looked beyond the boundaries. She saw beyond the limits. There is crossing of a great divide taking place here: from the chosen people of Israel who have a sense of entitlement to God's favour, to this woman of no standing, now showing faith in the Lord by paying Him homage.

Altering St Mark’s story of the Syro-Phoenican woman, Matthew depicts the story of a Canaanite woman, Israel’s ancient archenemies. It is an understatement to say that Canaanites were despised by Jews. The Canaanites actually returned the favour and despised them right back. What is it that would make a Canaanite woman reach out to a Jewish Messiah? In a word, desperation. In her torment and desperation, this woman no longer cares who helps her daughter as long as someone helps her! She is able to see beyond her tribal prejudices and hate. But she does more than that. She behaves as someone who has radical faith in the Lord. She called upon the Lord by His messianic title, “Son of David,” the very man and king who had fought with her ancestors, deprived them of their ancestral land and reduced them to landless refugees.

The gospel about the Canaanite woman sounds unusually harsh. At first, the Lord appears not to want to acknowledge that He hears her imploring request; then He says that His mission has to do only with Israel. His third statement underlies the second: the bread He offers belongs to the children, not to the dogs. Now comes the marvellous phrase from the woman: “Ah, yes” or to paraphrase it, “Yes, you are right.” She sees the point of the Lord’s argument and even concedes to it, but she adds, “but even the house dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.” This, the Lord cannot resist, any more than He can resist the Gentile centurion of Capernaum: this humble, trusting faith in the Lord conquers His heart and her request is granted. In Capernaum, it was “Lord, don’t trouble yourself; I am not worthy”. Here, it is a willingness to occupy the lowest position, under the table. In each case there was faith, and so Jesus pronounces His judgment: “Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.”

In speaking about God’s universal plan of salvation, it is easy to overlook the fact that the earthly mission of Our Lord Jesus Christ really has to do with Israel: He is the Messiah of the chosen people, Israel, around which the Gentile nations are to flock, after it has been made whole and come to true faith. The first reading says this clearly. The Lord cannot make an end run around His messianic mission; He can act only by fulfilling it. This mission is accomplished on the Cross, where rejected by Israel, He suffers not only for Israel but for all sinners. Yes, the Lord came to save everybody. He is the Jewish Messiah as foretold, but He had come to offer salvation to everybody. The Messiah was to be a “light for the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:6). He died on the cross as payment for all our sins, and He rose from death in resurrection, and He was the Good Shepherd and He predicted that His flock would be greatly expanded: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). He is the Messiah of the Jews, but He is our Saviour too.

We are living in times when there is an even greater fear of those who are different. There is a great impatience with those who do not speak our language; with those who have fled their country and sought refuge here without going through the proper channels. There is no denying that we live in a world marked by boundaries, and we cannot pretend that it is otherwise. And yet, we recognise that we worship a God who lives across boundaries, a God that does not belong to any tribe, and with no barrier, save except man’s wilful rejection of His offer of love that can keep Him from His goal of saving us. The good news that Jesus brings to us again in this Eucharist, does not erase all of the distinctions that we find in our world. But it introduces a new principle—faith in the God who desires “to have mercy on all”, who desires to save us — that unites us across all our human divisions. It is now faith in God’s goodness and mercy, not any ethnic or national identity, that makes one an “insider” in His kingdom. It is our common faith in His abundant providence, that when we gather around the altar of the Lord, we can honestly look each other in the eye and say, “You are my brother. You are my sister. You are of my tribe.”

Source: http://michaelckw.blogspot.my/

Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope
Lectionary: 419



Reading 1 (Jgs2:11-19)

The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.
Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers,
who led them out of the land of Egypt,
they followed the other gods of the various nations around them,
and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD.

Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth,
the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,
and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them.
He allowed them to fall into the power of their enemies round about
whom they were no longer able to withstand.
Whatever they undertook, the LORD turned into disaster for them,
as in his warning he had sworn he would do,
till they were in great distress.
Even when the LORD raised up judges to deliver them
from the power of their despoilers,
they did not listen to their judges,
but abandoned themselves to the worship of other gods.
They were quick to stray from the way their fathers had taken,
and did not follow their example of obedience
to the commandments of the LORD.
Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, he would be with the judge
and save them from the power of their enemies
as long as the judge lived;
it was thus the LORD took pity on their distressful cries
of affliction under their oppressors.
But when the judge died,
they would relapse and do worse than their ancestors,
following other gods in service and worship,
relinquishing none of their evil practices or stubborn conduct.

Responsorial Psalm (Ps 106:34-35, 36-37, 39-40, 43ab and 44)

R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

They did not exterminate the peoples,
as the LORD had commanded them,
But mingled with the nations
and learned their works.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

They served their idols,
which became a snare for them.
They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to demons.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

They became defiled by their works,
and wanton in their crimes.
And the LORD grew angry with his people,
and abhorred his inheritance.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Many times did he rescue them,
but they embittered him with their counsels.
Yet he had regard for their affliction
when he heard their cry.
R. Remember us, O Lord, as you favor your people.

Alleluia (Mt 5:3)

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are the poor in spirit;
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel (Mt 19:16-22)

A young man approached Jesus and said,
"Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"
He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good.
If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."
He asked him, "Which ones?"
And Jesus replied, "You shall not kill;
you shall not commit adultery;
you shall not steal;
you shall not bear false witness;
honor your father and your mother;
and you shall love your neighbor as yourself."
The young man said to him,
"All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?"
Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go,
sell what you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad,
for he had many possessions.



REFLECTION



He went away sad. This is the first time in the gospels that one goes away sad after encountering Jesus. The Greek word for sad is lupeo. It can also mean distressed, being in pain. That young man goes away sad because he cannot leave his possessions behind. The man knows the laws of Moses and many other elements of his religion, and he is surprised that Jesus demands more. Jesus challenges the man to adopt His new teaching.

Possessions here refer to lands or real estate property. They can be acquired without violating the rights of others. They are good in themselves, and owning them may be legitimate.

The Gospel teaches, however, that they are not sources of joy. The young man goes away sad. He does not agree with Jesus. He is not willing to give them up. He sacrifices Jesus in favor of his riches.

Jesus asks that He be made the priority of anyone who desires to gain eternal life. Learning this basic teaching means trusting God completely and risking one’s life to follow Jesus.

You cannot gain eternal life by putting your security in riches. Even in this life wealth is not the source of true joy.

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.) http://www.ssp.ph/



This post has been edited by khool: Aug 21 2017, 09:53 AM

Saint of the Day: Pope St Pius X



“To restore all things to Christ, in order that Christ may be all in all” was the motto of this 258th successor of Peter. And succeed in his endeavor he certainly did! For there was no aspect of the Church in which he did not enter, to discern, direct, determine, relaunch — the Liturgy, the Sacraments, catechesis, homiletics, Biblical study, Canon Law, sacred art and music, the social apostolate, priestly formation, matters ecclesiastical - whatever!

Born Giuseppe Melchiore Sarto in the diocese of Treviso, Italy, Pius X was the epitome of simplicity and humility, yet firm and decisive. His extraordinary intellectual endowments, high moral character, and solid piety evidenced from early youth won him laurels during his seminary training at Padua—“in discipline second to none, of greatest ability, endowed with a very good memory and most promising”.

Ordained priest in 1858, he was consecrated Bishop of Mantua in 1884, created Cardinal in 1893 and made Patriarch of Venice three days later. Noted for his charity, he took the keenest interest in the fate of the working classes and was thus instrumental in drawing away many workers from the atheistic Socialist Trade Union.

Elected Pope 1903, his very first encyclical, E Supremi Apostolatus Cathedra, together with his allocution to the Sacred College of Cardinals set the tone for his pontificate.
The hostilities of World War I having saddened him to death in 1914, he was beatified in1951 and canonized in 1954.

Reflection: “Experience teaches that the man who exercises a frequent and rigid censorship over his thoughts, words and actions, is better capable of hating and avoiding evil and of cultivating earnestly what is good” (Pope St Pius X).



Source: https://www.facebook.com/stpaulspubindia/po...432173586860840

Lady of Knock
by Dana (Rosemary Scallon)



There were people of all ages
gathered ‘round the gable wall
poor and humble men and women,
little children that you called

We are gathered here before you,
and our hearts are just the same
filled with joy at such a vision,
as we praise your name

Refrain:
Golden Rose, Queen of Ireland,
all my cares and troubles cease
as we kneel with love before you,
Lady of Knock, my Queen of Peace

Though your message was unspoken,
still the truth in silence lies
as we gaze upon your vision,
and the truth I try to find

here I stand with John the teacher,
and with Joseph at your side
and I see the Lamb of God,
on the Altar glorified

Refrain

And the Lamb will conquer
and the woman clothed in the sun
will shine Her light on everyone

and the lamb will conquer
and the woman clothed in the sun,
will shine Her light on everyone